How many times have we talked about social media and said something along the lines of “post on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest…and others!” Every time we do that, poor LinkedIn dies a little on the inside.
Why is that? Why do we forget about a social media that has over 260 million users and is a great place to find professionals interested in the same things as you? So many jobs and new experiences have been found on the site, yet social media pros constantly look it over.
There are several reasons why I think this happens, but it’s also important to look at why you should keep LinkedIn in mind.
Sexiness
Right off the bat I can think of a major reason why LinkedIn gets looked over: sexiness. Nobody thinks of LinkedIn when discussing social media sites that are breaking new ground or going off the charts with hot new features. Mainly because the site prides itself on being professional rather than exciting and fun.
This doesn’t lend itself to making the news. In fact, I would say LinkedIn relies more on word of mouth, making it a truer social media experience in some ways. But the fact of the matter is the average Internet user won’t have “fun” on the site, even if they use it for work.
And that’s another thing – work. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc. are social networks that are 99% of the time used for fun and relaxing. LinkedIn is used for work, which doesn’t exactly jive with the whole “I’m doing this for fun” thing. Many do use it recreationally, but there’s still the “work” overtones as you’re talking to actual or potential clients and colleagues.
Why It’s Important
As mentioned, the 260 million user stat is nothing to sneeze at. There are a ton of people out there waiting to hear from you and talk to you. Since you want to broaden your viewership as much as you can, posting it on LinkedIn is a necessity.
There’s also the matter of conversion rates. Strangely enough, LinkedIn has one of the higher lead conversion rates. Maybe it’s the professional nature of the site, or that there’s nowhere near as much “spam” content, but LinkedIn users love to click on things and read them, especially if they trust you.
This could also lead to more recommendations from pretty important people on the site. Every Fortune 500 company is represented on LinkedIn, meaning your audience is very influential. If a higher-up from Google sees your link and reposts it or recommends it, the chance for it to spread is more likely than if your Great Aunt Tilly reposts it to her friends from high school.
On top of that, you have people right in front of you who are interested in the same things you are. If you’re a toy maker, you have CEOs and other workers in the toy industry who enjoy talking about the subject. They’ll respond positively if you recommend a link or other material if they know you’re serious about your love of the industry.
Do you use LinkedIn regularly?